​Well, this is Memorial weekend. Most people have Monday off work, so it is the perfect time for a cookout. But cookouts are so common, what can you do to make yours different and special? Make it a Mexican fiesta! Everyone loves Mexican food, but instead of doing the same old tired taco/burrito menu, make traditional cookout food but with a Mexican flair! Here's some great recipes to make your fiesta cookout the most memorable ever!

First and most important, are the burgers. You have to have burgers at a cookout! These burgers are definitely fiest-ive! If you would like more heat in these patties, mince a jalapeno and add it in with the onion!
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After the burgers are cooked, you can either serve them on hamburger buns, or you can toss tortillas on the grill and serve them warm so the burgers can be wrapped. With all the delicious toppings to choose from, there is something for everyone.

What sides should be served at your Mexican Fiesta Cookout? There are so many, I cannot even list them all. Tortilla chips and salsa are a given. Another perfect accompaniment is cold corn salad. I love any kind of corn salad, but this one has a spicy flavor with the perfect amount of heat. It's delicious, and perfect for a fiesta cookout!
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Stir well and sprinkle cheese and fresh parsley on top before serving.

Corn salad, like any other cold salad, is pretty flexible on what you put in it. As long as you add the olive oil, lime juice, herbs, taco seasoning and corn, the other things you put in it basically rests on what you like. My husband and I are not a fan of raw tomatoes, so we omit them. If you like them, toss them in!

Another great side for a Fiesta Cookout is Mexican pasta salad. Like the Corn Salad, it should be made the day before and chilled overnight.
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In a large bowl mix the cooled pasta (do NOT try to mix this with hot pasta!), Rotel, beans, olives, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion and 1/2 of the cilantro

Pour the chilled dressing over the pasta mixture and stir gently till combined

Refrigerate overnight

Top with the feta cheese and the other half of the cilantro and serve

​I almost always serve fruit for dessert at my cookouts. I was happy to find this delicious recipe for chili lime seasoning that goes on fruit salad. It gives plain fruit salad a flavorful twist that I really love. I sprinkle it sparingly on the fruit and put a shaker of it on the table in case anyone wants more. It has been a hit and really gives the fruit salad some zip!
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​Mexican Fruit Salad
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Ingredients:

2 cups of pineapple chunks

2 cups of 1 x 1 inch watermelon chunks

2 cups halved strawberries

1 cup grapes (whatever color you prefer)

1cupof 1 x 1 inch mango chunks

1cupof 1 x 1 inch papaya chunks

Juice of 1 lime

Chili lime seasoning to taste​

Instructions:
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Place fruit in a shallow layer in a large bowl and sprinkle lime juice and a small amount of chili lime seasoning

Place another shallow layer on top and repeat till all fruit is in the bowl

Stir gently to mix, cover and chill in refrigerator overnight

I have included an recipe for chili lime seasoning. This seasoning is not just good for fruit salad, it is also great on tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, or basically any Mexican dish. I really like it on refried beans. If you don't feel like making this seasoning from scratch, Trader Joes's makes a tasty blend you can buy from Amazon.

The last recipe I wanted to share with you may be the most important! What is a fiesta without a delicious adult beverage? And the most delicious delicious Mexican drink that I know of is Sangria!

Now you can make Sangria in red or white and both are delicious. I decided on white for the fiesta cookout because it is lighter and more able to be flavored by summer fruit. Here is my favorite recipe:

Fiesta Sangria

Ingredients:
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​3 cups of 1 x 1 inch watermelon cubes, frozen

2 cups of green seedless grapes, frozen

1 cup of 1/2 x 1/2 inch cantaloupe

1 cup of 1/2 x 1/2 inch honeydew melon

1 whole lime sliced thin in half rounds

2 cups dry white port wine

1 full bottle of Moscato

4 cups lime seltzer water

Directions:

Freeze grapes and watermelon cubes until completely hard

Chill the seltzer and Moscato until completely cold

Soak the cantaloupe and honeydew in a bowl of the port wine in the refrigerator for at least an hour (do not let them get mushy)

In a punch bowl pour the seltzer and Moscato

Remove the cantaloupe and honeydew from the port and put in the punch bowl (discard port)

Add lime slices and stir with a wooden spoon to mix

Right before serving add frozen grapes and watermelon

If you want your sangria to be sweeter, you can add some simple syrup (learn how to make it here: How to Make Simple Syrup​

There are many other things that you can have at your Mexican fiesta cookout, these recipes I have shared are only a few. Have fun with it!

Have a great Memorial Weekend!

Jade :)

This is my favorite punch bowl for two reasons. First, it is plastic and cannot be broken and second, it does not come with cups, which I never use (too small!)